She does a very good job at regrouping and carrying and really seems to get the idea of place value. The facts are the real bug-a-boo. Your recommendations look great, we really needed something "different" to get us re-energized. Thank you!

I second the use of graph paper for math! There were times that neither my kids nor I could read what they had written before graph paper came into our lives.

Hi All, My 10 yr old daughter is in 4th grade this year, but she struggled so hard to get the idea of multiplication last year, that I decided to "slow the bus" and try a different technique. After much debate with myself, I've settled on MUS Gamma so that she can actually "see" what multiplication is all about. My concern is that since we didn't start earlier in the MUS concept, will I get how to teach her the manipulatives and will she understand how it works? Also, we're still working on our addition/subtraction facts to get them down without using fingers. I feel like I may even need to go back further in MUS to get the concepts, but I don't like the feeling of being so far behind. She understands addition and subtraction - just doesn't have her facts down cold. Does anyone have any suggestions, please? Flashcards, songs and drills are not this kid's thing. She just doesn't retain it. We can do them over and over and over. We have used songs for learning the state capitals and she can sing the songs from start to finish, but if I ask her a state or capital out of order, she looks at me with a blank look and has no idea. Thank you so much for your input. I need to order my math program, but have been dragging my feet because of this indecision.

Well, I have a bit of a different take. My 11yo son came home to hs last year after spending 4th in ps. He's pretty good at math, but after a couple of months of using a very boring, "do the next thing" math program, I picked this book up at a book store as a supplement after looking at tons of books. Believe me - the title is a HUGE mistake for this book. I guess she was trying to be "hip" and "speak the language", but I think she did herself a total disservice. I would have loved to of had a book like this when I was in school. No one could seem to explain middle school math, relate it to real life and make it fun like this book does. (Granted I hadn't found Life of Fred yet, either). Anyway, we had a blast with this book and soon dumped the other curriculum except for the problems. We would sit and laugh, work problems and go "Wow, what a great way to work this or remember that." She really is a great math teacher and he blew the Iowa basic Skills test away in math. The book is definitely geared toward girls, but this was half the fun. Along with opening a few doors as to why some girls, or people in general, may think some things are important that really aren't (can you say "shallow?"), it also led to many belly laughs as we decided to "change" the entire book to a male's perspective. High heels became combat boots, makeup became Native American war paint, poodles were Dobermans, lattes were huge root beer floats, etc. All in all, I have to say we had a blast and both learned a lot! We are moving onto Chalkdust and Life of Fred this year, but the book (if you can get past the title) really did give a great foundation. She has a very unique and straight forward way of explaining math, how it relates to real life situations and most importantly - how one thing you learn will have a correlation to something else you learn later on. It's a very concise and cohesive book. I for one can recommend this book - if you are willing to also discuss a few "trendy" things like lattes, cell phones, clothes shopping, the inappropriateness of the title, and the occasional boyfriend reference. I personally would rather use a lighthearted opportunity like this to openly discuss a few "worldly" vices in a controlled environment, than to have them be discussed with friends without my view being heard first. Again, I think the title was a huge mistake and really detracts from the overall math content, but I also didn't like Marilyn Burn's title, "I Hate Math".

Hi Penny, This is one of my first times on this particular thread, but I thought I'd try and answer you. I have two dc that I homeschooled this past year. DS 11 w/ADHD and dysgraphia, DD 9 w/ a reading/dyslexia/audio processing problem (we haven't been able to put a diagnosis on it). I attending several Dianne Craft workshops last year and really connected. (I am also ADHD). I bought several of her books and tried to implement it during the year. Unfortunately, due to starting late (my dh had a sabbatical) and just trying to figure out how to homeschool two kids in different grades, I did an abysmal job of the Dianne Craft implementation. I do have to say that I am definitely going to do a better job this year. When we did do the exercises - it gave us a great break during subjects. Another big part of her regime is vitamins and supplements. I did do a very good job of following her recommendations for the children, as well as myself. I wasn't sure it was doing any good until we fell off of our routine this summer and stopped taking them. Boy, what a difference I can tell in my children, as well as feel myself. No energy, and a definite drop in focus. We will be starting our vitamins/supplements again this week. Sorry, if I wasn't much help, but I did want you to know that I will be focusing on Craft's materials this year because I do believe she has valid ideas.

Thank you - they do look great. I'm definitely going get one and see if he gets hooked on it. It looks like something he'll love.

We are going to do both this year. I have kids that came out of PS the first of last year and really hadn't had much history. I started SOTW Vol. 1 with my 9yo dd and The History of US for my 11yo ds. He loved reading the American History, but really enjoyed joining in with my dd in World History, also. This year, we are doing SOTW Vol. 2 with separate "extra" reading selections and biographies for each child per ability. Then, I'm also starting an abbreviated American history up to the Colonial era for my dd to catch her up a bit. At that point, I would like my son to join us at least for the project, since he'll be a bit ahead of us reading. I like the idea of learning both histories, as long as we really push the timelines and it's understood that US history is a very small part of the history of the world. Albeit, a very important one to us!

Has anyone read these books? My 11ds is interested in it after I brought home a flier from our HS conference. Good books? Age appropriate for a voracious reader? Comments? Thanks.

We used RS4K Biology Level I last year for a 9yr dd and 11yr ds. I liked it but didn't stick directly with it. We got off on several tangents. My son wanted a microscope for Christmas, so we put "everything" under the microscope for a couple of months and I got the "Microscope Adventure!" book from Kym Wright www.learn-and-do.com and had a blast. Then for our co-op science fair we decided to do a HUGE study of the human body systems. So that finished off the year. This year we're doing the RS4K Chemistry Level I and I will require a lot more out of my 6th gr. ds. I do like the ability to put some unit type studies in there to break up the monotony of RS4K - it tends to be a bit rigid and I get restless (not to mention the kids). This year we're also doing an Astronomy study, weather and maybe even some geology. I doubt we'll get to physics, but I hope to because my ds will need to move to a more "middle school" type science next year. I haven't tried NOEO, so I can't compare it, but I do like the information the kids get out of RS4K - they certainly don't talk down to the kids in these books. ****A note of something that we all really enjoyed last year...when we begin our day of school, we do about 20 mins of "morning warm-up" (calendar, Bible verse, memory work run through, holiday discussion, etc.). Last year, I bought the Scholastic workbook called "Science Question of the Day" (grades 3-6). It was mainly multiple choice or discussion questions about Life, Earth and Physical science. The kids loved it and would beg for me to ask pages of questions. It started many great discussions. Well, they both had to take standardized tests at the end of the year due to state requirements and they both blew the Iowa Basics science test away. This is from two kids who had just come out of PS where they had recieved very minimal science. I have to believe that the questions and discussions had a lot to do with it. I liked the fact that I felt the kids were getting exposed to a lot of science, and could then go in-depth in several areas without guilt that I was "missing something". This may be a bit above your younger son, but I bet he would enjoy the conversations. Hope you have a blast this year, whatever you decide.

We like "Take-Off" for a geography game. I just bought "Sequence - States and Capitals" to try out this year. Good old card games that make you count - like "Blackjack or 21" are fun too.

I think I picked the desk calendar up at either my local Borders or Barnes & Noble near the first of the year. It's a beautiful calendar and a lot of fun. I hope they have a new version for next year.

One of our favorite things: A desk calendar called- "1,000 Places You Should See Before You Die". We pull a sheet off everyday, read the blurb and ooh and ahh over the picture. Then we find where it is on the globe and the kids fight over who gets to keep the picture and stick it up on their little cork board for the day. A fun daily geography routine.

Thank you, I'm planning ds 6th grade lit this week. This looks like a great addition.

Somewhere early on, I read about using milk crates for the kids' school books. I went to a popular organization store and bought two sturdy milk crates in different colors. They came with these very sturdy wheels we can use on the bottom. I found a metal upright folder holder and it dropped in there perfectly. This holds the books up straight where the kids can just flip through them by subject to find what they need. Then they just roll the box back under the desk. We traveled for several months last year and just picked up the crates and put them in the back of the truck. I keep all of my teacher's manuals on the shelf above me in magazine file boxes, as others have mentioned. Bookends were a pain and the floppy guides would fall over before I got the magazine boxes. Another great organizer we love, I went to the local big hardware supply and bought one of those organizers with the little plastic drawers they use for nails, screws, etc. It fits against the wall on our desk, only coming out about 6 inches and holds all of our little odds and ends ...paper clips, binder clips, extra staples, post-it notes, glue sticks, erasers, push pins, etc. I labeled all of the drawers... Martha Stewart would be proud of me...now if only I could find a pair of reading glasses when I need them.

I have a wiggle worm. Even at 11 he still seems to like to be upside down on the chair or sticking push pins into his big pink eraser while doing his schoolwork. A couple of things that have definitely worked for us over the years-(though I'm still trying to find something to help with the handwriting) -A big breakfast with lots of protein (I make shakes with fruit, yogurt, protein powder, flaxseed oil, etc.) -A big walk or bike ride right after cleaning up b'fast and before math -Doing math first thing in the morning, then taking at least a 15-20 min. run time break -We also move rooms and locations a lot during the day to break up the feeling of being pinned down to one spot After that morning break, he is able to focus until we need to break again around lunch. This works very well for my wiggle worm and starts the day off with rosy cheeks and lungs full of fresh air. As a matter of fact, I find that if I don't have this type of morning, my own day doesn't go as well. Having a boy in the family is great - he keeps us moving and exploring!

I second letting your son figure it out. Yeap, my son can work the computer-based home theater system my techie husband put in. I can't even get the thing to play a DVD. Very frustrating, putting it mildly. All my son wanted for Christmas was a microscope, so we sprang for a pretty nice one with all the "doohickies". Took me forever to see anything also. I finally figured out that it was me - actually my eyesight. I have to majorly adjust the thing because one eye has astigmatism, the other just can’t seem to see up close anymore. The kids could see the slides fine - I couldn't see squat until I finally figured out how to adjust it correctly for my eyes. Good luck - the microscope has been an awesome addition to our household. The kids put everything under it. They won't let me throw away any of the creepy things lingering in the back of the fridge for fear they'll miss some great microscopic find. We also purchased the “elementary slide pack” from Home Science Tools and love it!

UUggg! I think I just answered my own question. It helps to actually read the abbreviation sticky carefully. I am assuming SL is short for Sonlight.

Still pretty new at this...may I ask what SL and HSL are? Are they baords? I'm completely lost if there's an abbreviation mentioned that isn't on the "abbreviation sticky". Thanks

Hi Kel, Not sure if I can really help, because we're somewhat in the same boat. My 9 (almost 10) dd is a very poor speller. She was in PS until last year when we hs'd for 3rd grade. We used Evan Moor because it seemed close to what she was using in PS. Other than some of the "busy work" in the book, I liked it. She did well each Friday on the tests, but could barely spell even simple words in writing on Monday, much less the past spelling words. Very frustrating for both of us. I'm starting from the beginning with All About Spelling, even though she's in 4th. I really want her to have confidence in spelling and unfortunately, she isn't a natural speller like her brother or me. I can read a word and it seems to to be imprinted in my brain. I can "see" if it's right. That doesn't work for her. I'm hoping AAS will give her a strong base to build on. I may be making a mistake, but sometimes we have to go with what we hope will be the best for our children, regardless of whether it "puts them behind" or not. I hope that whatever you decide, your ds will have great success.

We also love "Take Off". I read "Geography Smart Junior: A Young Explorer's Guide to the World" to my 3rd & 5th graders last year. We would read a chapter at a time, do the questions and then play a game of "Take Off" during lunch. We had a blast - what memories. The kids learned a lot about world geography and had fun in the process. I highly recommend this game.

THAT'S IT!! Thank you so very much! I even remember the name now that I see it. I want to use this as part of a Life Skills study this year on money (budgeting, wise spending, saving, giving and tithing). I hope it will also be useful critical thinking material. Again, thank you all for your input.

It's funny that you mention The Fallacy Detective. I remember the Fallacy Detective being mentioned along with this "other" book on the hidden dangers of advertising. I'm so bummed I didn't bookmark that suggestion. I have no idea where I read it originally. Thank you for mentioning the Fallacy Detective, I'll definitely look at it more closely. The Art of Argument looks very good also. Thank you for the suggestions!

Does anyone know of a good book that would help me in teaching my children about the hidden dangers associated with advertising. I thought I saw one out there somewhere, but haven't been able to find it again. Thank you.

Lori, Thank you for your comments on your experience with MUS and also thank you for your warm thoughts and advice. It does help to hear from someone who's "been there" and can put some perspective on the overload of information.

I can't say I actually "hate" these books, but I have a really hard time with the ones that make me cry...usually because the dog died. "Ole Yeller" (of course) "Watership Down" "Where the Red Fern Grows" even ... "Charlotte's Web"